Countdown to Ferry Flight ...

Posted on Sun April 12, 2026.

Update on N7927 progress - Weekend 11 April 2026

Richard and Alex are at it again up in Fort Pierce! Respect for their continued energy and capacity.

It is frustrating for me to be stuck on this side of the Atlantic in Cape Town asking for pictures!

On the list for their visit this weekend:

  • Installation of the 3 Apollo radios that Alex has fully repaired back in the workshop
  • Removal of antennae and replacement with new ones
  • Purchase and install new battery
  • Run up both engines again and check carburettor settings
  • Trouble shooting a feathering problem on the right-hand engine
  • Hydraulic system checks and preparation for gear swings

Day 1: They are through the first 4 items on and over here in South Africa I wait anxiously for news of the feathering problem origin and hopefully a solution so we can run them both at full power.
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Progress over the last few weeks has been steady as issues are analyzed and resolved one by one.

Day 2: As luck would have it a problem with the main instrument inverter has brought progress on engine testing to a halt which is disappointing to say the least.

The prospect of flight to Tamiami in June is a still a real possibility and we are on standby to book flights from Cape Town to West Palm as we get news that problems are solvable in the medium term!.  

Alex has the screen working! N7297 from the workshop firetruck And radios back in ...

Further Reading

Inverter Fixed - Coventry airport closure causes another problem! Thu May 7, 2026

Right now, curveballs seem to hang around just waiting to be thrown! Whilst positive progress continues, frustration dogs us in the final preparations .... I leave you with a video of the rudder which was overhauled and installed a little while ago. Note the big control surface clamps that Richard made in a hurry under the real threat of a hurricane.

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Oil and oil and more oil!
Engines prepared for start April 2025

Some blood and lots of sweat leading up to our first potential engine start .... Richard, Alex and I working long hours into the night and washing down under a hose behind the hanger

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